When Juarez Sneezes, El Paso Catches a Cold

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There’s a saying in West Texas: when Juarez sneezes, El Paso catches a cold. These two cities are inextricably tied by region and by culture. And it’s been that way for centuries—sister cities divided only by the border fence and the Rio Grande.

It’s this relationship that some in El Paso see as being strained by a new law known as Senate Bill 4 (SB 4). It’s been called Texas’ “sanctuary cities” law, and it takes effect on September 1. SB 4 will require police officers to perform some duties once reserved for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Some in El Paso’s law enforcement community have expressed concern that this will make it harder for police to do their job. Many local government officials agree, even taking it a step further by saying that SB 4 threatens the social fabric of this border community. So the county of El Paso is pushing back on state lawmakers and Texas governor Greg Abbott by filing a lawsuit against the state in opposition to SB 4.